The Amazing Spider-Man Suit
Originally published at The Preternatural Post. Please leave any comments there.
With The Amazing Spider-Man opening in theaters on Tuesday and Comic Con 2012 just around the corner, The preternatural Post is venturing into mostly uncharted territory for us. Welcome to our first foray into cosplay and you guessed it we’re looking at the Spidey-suit.
When it comes to cosplay or costume play to give it it’s full moniker, comic book characters like Spider-Man are extremely popular. Part of that is the longevity. Since Spider-Man was introduced to the world in 1962, he’s made a number of fashion statements and yet the basic premise, a red and blue body suit with a spider emblem on the chest and boots, has remained unchanged and instantly recognizable. Add the fact that Peter Parker could make his iconic costume and it’s easy to see why anyone with a sewing machine thinks they could. A blockbuster movie like The Amazing Spider-Man doesn’t hurt either. It is the mask, however that probably plays the biggest part in the enduring popularity of the Spider-man costume.
“There’s one reason Spider-Man is one of the biggest international superheroes,” explains Marc Webb, director of The Amazing Spider-Man. “It has to do with the mask. People from around the world can identify with him because he belongs to no race or culture. I mean that is part of what makes him interesting.”
The mask also makes it easier for some people to wear a form-fitting costume in public. No matter what Capt. Stacy might say, Spider-Man is not just “some guy in a unitard”. Let’s face it not everyone over the age of 10 has the body to pull off the Spidey look. And while you can, and some do, build the physique into the suit. there are still certain physical characteristics to take into consideration.
Whether it’s the mask or the makeability that draws cosplayers, Spider-Man is a popular character at comic cons and for Halloween. His history and the sheer variety of media he has appeared in allow fans and amateur costumers plenty of flexibility while still ensuring their character will be recognized. He also doesn’t accessorize much. Most of the Spider-Men you’ll encounter at pop culture conventions don’t even have basic web-slinging ability. In general, fans attending comic cons are not costume nazis. Be warned, however, there are those with strong feelings regarding the different representations of Spider-Man from the comic books to the video games to the films, and they can be sticklers for accuracy.
To help would-be Spider-Man cosplayers out, here is some amazing insight into the suit from The Amazing Spider-Man himself, Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) as well as costar Gwen Stacy (emma Stone) and costume designer Kym Barrett.
Click to view